Loading patent…
OwnerGary E. Wheat, Terri K. Brown +2inventors
InventorsGary E. Wheat, Terri K. Brown, Richard L. Schmidt, Edward J. Cove
Estimating the term…
A gas distributor suitable for introducing a carrier gas at the top of a coating container used to provide a metallic coating on articles. The gas distributor includes a gas inlet and a gas outlet head in communication with the gas inlet for receiving a flow of gas from the gas inlet. A plurality of gas outlets through which the gas flow exits as a gas stream are spaced along the peripheral surface of the gas outlet head. A plurality of gas deflectors, each proximate to one of the gas outlets, at least initially direct the gas stream exiting the gas outlet in at least a generally centripetal path. This gas distributor can be used in vapor coating apparatus having a coating container, at least one holder for each article to be coated positioned within the coating container and below the gas outlet head of the gas distributor and at least one holder for the source of the metallic coating positioned within the coating container and below the gas outlet head of the gas distributor. A method is also provided for introducing the carrier gas as a plurality of carrier gas streams proximate the top of the coating container so that each carrier gas stream flows at least initially in at least a generally centripetal path, as well as a method for coating the articles with a metallic coating in the coating container.
A gas distributor, which comprises:
An apparatus for vapor coating of articles with a metallic coating, which comprises:
A method for introducing an inert carrier gas into a coating container for vapor coating of articles with a metallic coating, the container having a base, a top spaced from the base, and a side wall connecting the top and the base, the method comprising the step of introducing the carrier gas as a plurality of carrier gas streams proximate the top of the coating container, each carrier gas stream flowing at least initially in at least a generally centripetal path.
A method for coating articles with a metallic coating in a vapor coating container having a base, a top spaced from the base, and a side wall connecting the top and the base, the base, top and side wall defining a coating chamber, the method comprising the steps of:
The method of claim 30 wherein the loaded container is heated during step (c) to a temperature in the range from about 1000° to about 2200° F. (from about 538° to about 1204° C.) 32. The method of claim 31 wherein the loaded container is heated during step (c) to a temperature in the range of from about 1900° to about 2000° F. (from about 1038° to about 1093° C.).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.